Strong home sales again
Santa Rita Ranch has once again earned a spot among the top-selling master-planned communities in the country. A new report from John Burns Real Estate & Consulting shows the Liberty Hill neighborhood ranked No. 24 nationwide and sixth in Texas, with 483 homes sold last year. It also marked the sixth consecutive year Santa Rita Ranch led all Austin-area communities in home sales.
Another Central Texas community, Sonterra in Jarrell, also appeared on the national list, ranking No. 41 with 400 homes sold.
Why buyers keep coming
Developer Ed Horne said Santa Rita Ranch’s wide range of housing options continues to drive demand. Homes in the community range in price from just over 300,000 dollars to nearly 1.5 million dollars, appealing to buyers at different stages of life.
Horne said the mix of entry-level, move-up and higher-end homes sets the community apart from others in the Austin area. He added that buyer trends have shifted in recent years, with more purchasers now coming from nearby Austin communities rather than relocating from outside the metro.
Growth still ahead
Santa Rita Ranch is about 50 percent built out, with roughly 5,000 homes completed on the 3,100-acre site. Builders active in the neighborhood include CastleRock Communities, Highland Homes, Perry Homes and Westin Homes.
The development expanded last year with the addition of Eldorado Village, which brought 1,000 new homes. Horne said about 500 additional homesites are expected to be released in 2026.
Retail and development opportunities
Retail growth is also following the rooftops. The community welcomed a Costco and Target last year, and Horne said more retail development is expected over the next two years. He pointed to restaurants, family entertainment and medical offices as key opportunities as the population grows.
Santa Rita Ranch and Sonterra also ranked first and second on the Austin Business Journal’s list of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Central Texas, reflecting continued momentum north of Austin.
For Liberty Hill, Santa Rita Ranch’s performance underscores how sustained housing demand is shaping growth across the region.
